The Ernest Rickford Family

In the year 1882 a son, Ernest, was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Rickford at Casselton, North Dakota.  The family moved to Willow Township Section 15.  John Rickford and his wife Caroline Toma originally came from Germany.

Ernest and his brothers and sisters grew up and soon were ready for homes of their own.

Ernest met Pauline (Lena) Rickford and they were married in 1909.  Lena was born at Lakota, North Dakota.  Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Rickford, came from Germany and Austria.  William, having studied at a music conservatory in Germany, was an accomplished pianist.  His playing ability soon won him recognition far and wide.

Ernest and Lena purchased a farm on Section 12 in Willow Township from Matt and Minnie Hovel.  The farm had previously been operated by Mr. Roach.  In 1910 a daughter Hazel Rickford was born and in 1916 a son Earl Rickford.  Ernest and Lena became members of the Zion Free Church near Binford, later transferring their membership to West Prairie Lutheran Church.

Ernest operated the farm until his wife passed away in 1939.  Hazel had married Mansfield Ronningen and they had a daughter, Harriet Roningen.  Ernest rented out the farm to Mansfield for two years.  He passed away in 1945.

Earl Rickford married Helen Simenson on July 2, 1940 and they had two children: 

  1. William Rickford and

  2. Patricia Rickford. 

Earl operated the farm until 1958 when he decided to try his hand at electrical work, which he liked much better.  The land was rented out for the next 17 years.

William married Cheryl Larson on September 3, 1966.  They have one son named Scott Rickford, born in January 1971.  William, in 1974, took over the operation of the entire farm.

Patricia married Terry Hall on December 16, 1967.  Terry was stationed with the Air Force in Germany.  Their daughter, Christine Hall, was born in Germany in 1968.  They have a son, Brian Hall, born in 1970.

After the service Terry purchased his grandfather's home farm in Section 5 and Section 6 in Clearfield Township in 1972.

The farming operations for both the Rickfords and the Halls are third generation.

Earl and Helen Rickford thought it time to try their hand at being "city folks."  They purchased a lot in Binford, remodeled the house and moved in to Binford in the spring of 1975.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 503